A co-worker has announced that his elderly uncle can no longer hunt and would like to turn a couple of his guns into cash. I am interested in the 300WinMag that he has, but once the co-worker brought it to me to look over, or test fire if I care to, I am a bit nervous. It appears to me to be fairly old, and I cannot find any manufacturer name or serial number on it. I raised my concern to the co-worker and he advised that his brother has a gun that does not have any markings on it because it was tailor built by a gunsmith to his exact specifications, what with him being a larger man and typical guns did not fit his frame so well. He says the brother spent over $1000 having the gun built. But I digress, he would like $350 for the gun, I have a couple pictures I will attach to this, and await your wealth of knowledge and advice. I am, as he says, "just a pup," and that in the good old days, there were more gunsmiths and it used to be more common to have guns built. I am skeptical and affraid that it is a Frakenstein that was made from spare parts. Thanks in advance.
Cannot identify this rifle. Would love some advice.
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7six2
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Looks like it started life as a P14 / P17. Gunsmith later converted it which was common back when. I've seen them go 200 - 400.
Jim Watson
Member
Agree with 7
It could be either a US 1917 or a Pattern 14 action; WW I surplus rather conventionally sporterized.
The stock is a common Bishop or Fajen, the scope looks like a Bushnell in Weaver mounts, I see it has a rear barrel sight but no front.
It is plenty strong, no need to worry about that, but it is a very ordinary specimen. Most of the seller's claims are BS. The arsenal and serial number markings on that family of guns are on the receiver ring where it is now covered by the front scope base. If big brother spent $1000 on it, he was cheated. $350 is every cent it is worth, in my opinion. It would be an easy entry into a .300 Magnum if it passed a test firing with reliable feeding from the magazine and decent accuracy on the target. Not if it "needs a little work" or if he will not let you try it out pretty thoroughly.
It could be either a US 1917 or a Pattern 14 action; WW I surplus rather conventionally sporterized.
The stock is a common Bishop or Fajen, the scope looks like a Bushnell in Weaver mounts, I see it has a rear barrel sight but no front.
It is plenty strong, no need to worry about that, but it is a very ordinary specimen. Most of the seller's claims are BS. The arsenal and serial number markings on that family of guns are on the receiver ring where it is now covered by the front scope base. If big brother spent $1000 on it, he was cheated. $350 is every cent it is worth, in my opinion. It would be an easy entry into a .300 Magnum if it passed a test firing with reliable feeding from the magazine and decent accuracy on the target. Not if it "needs a little work" or if he will not let you try it out pretty thoroughly.
deadin
Member
It appears to be built on a 1917 Enfield (U.S.Rifle M1917)action. These were originally in 30/06 and were made by Remington, (two different plants) and by Winchester. They were a Remington design that was being made for the British as the Pattern 14 in .303 Brit. When the U.S. got into WW1, the design was updated and the P17 was born.
The markings were on the receiver ring and when a scope mount was put on it may have covered them up. In some cases the markings were totaly removed in the process of building a custon rifle. The action is q very good one and Remington continued using it as their Model 30 after the war.
Be aware that some of the Eddystone Remingtons were known to have brittle receivers, so it should be checked out by someone familiar with the type.
The markings were on the receiver ring and when a scope mount was put on it may have covered them up. In some cases the markings were totaly removed in the process of building a custon rifle. The action is q very good one and Remington continued using it as their Model 30 after the war.
Be aware that some of the Eddystone Remingtons were known to have brittle receivers, so it should be checked out by someone familiar with the type.
mljdeckard
Member
The bolt shape and safety give it away as a 1917 Enfield/P-14. I know mainly because I have one, inherited from my grandfather, in a sporterized stock. A good enough rifle, I love it, but nothing exotic or rare.
That dogleg bolt points to it being made from the action of a Enfield M1917. These were/are brute strong receivers of a military rifle that gunsmiths made into sporter rifles with powerful cartridges many being the long magnum cartridges. If the action is sound then it's more than strong enough for the .300 WinMag.
jerkface11
Member
The Big Bore guys love these guns. They convert them to real magnums though not .30 cals.
Larry E
Member
Remington sold commercial versions of the 1917/P14 up until WW II with the same mods popular with gunsmiths. Good, strong action, but not worth any more than a commercial action, or less depending on its overall condition. "If it's mine it's worth a mint," seems to be the current owner's attitude.
bannockburn
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NTMID8R
Everything the others have posted so far has been very good info and quite accurate. Something else to consider as deadin pointed out, is that some of the Eddystone receivers developed hairline cracks in the area around where the barrel was screwed in to the receiver. Some attribute this to brittle, improperly heat treated receivers. Others maintain that sometimes these cracks occured when the original barrel was removed for replacement with another barrel. So while the action is more than strong enough for .300 WinMag, it's quite possible that some damage may have been done to the receiver during the conversion process. I think a thorough examination by a qualified gunsmith should be done before making a decision whether you want to buy it or not.
Everything the others have posted so far has been very good info and quite accurate. Something else to consider as deadin pointed out, is that some of the Eddystone receivers developed hairline cracks in the area around where the barrel was screwed in to the receiver. Some attribute this to brittle, improperly heat treated receivers. Others maintain that sometimes these cracks occured when the original barrel was removed for replacement with another barrel. So while the action is more than strong enough for .300 WinMag, it's quite possible that some damage may have been done to the receiver during the conversion process. I think a thorough examination by a qualified gunsmith should be done before making a decision whether you want to buy it or not.
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